Dancong needs heat. Anything cooler and the aroma compounds stay locked in the leaf. Use a kettle that holds boil, not a dispenser set to 85°C.
茶叶用量:4克(100–110毫升水)
The full sample fits a standard Chaozhou gaiwan. If your vessel is larger, scale up — dancong rewards a generous leaf-to-water ratio, not a thin pour.
快冲,再逐步延长时间
First three infusions at 5 seconds. Then 8, 12, 20, 30. A good dancong gives 10–12 steeps; the late ones turn honeyed and quiet.
快速洗茶一次
A 3-second rinse with boiling water wakes the rolled leaves. Pour it off — the second pour is your first cup, and it should already smell of orchid.
密封保存,避光
Roasted oolongs keep well for 6–12 months in foil-lined pouches at room temperature. Avoid the fridge — condensation flattens the aroma.
闻空杯香
Chaozhou tradition: smell the gaiwan lid and the drained cup after pouring. The 'cold aroma' (lěng xiāng) is where dancong tells you its true cultivar.
Common questions
Asked, answered.
Why is one called 'duck-shit aroma'?
Folk story: the farmer who first propagated it called it that to stop neighbours stealing cuttings. The tea itself smells of gardenia and almond, not what the name suggests.
Is dancong actually from one single tree?
Originally yes. Today, true single-bush teas exist but are rare and expensive. Most market *dāncóng* comes from cultivar clones of a named mother tree, picked and processed separately.
Will 4g really give me a full session?
Yes. Gongfu brewing with 4g in a 100ml gaiwan gives 8–12 short infusions — roughly 800–1200ml of tea, enough for two people to share one sitting.
Light roast or medium roast — which sample is which?
The 2026 *Mí Lán Xiāng* is a light-medium roast (bright, floral). The *Yā Shǐ Xiāng* is medium (deeper, more honeyed). Both are from the same April harvest.
Can I brew dancong Western-style?
You can, but you'll miss most of it. Use 2g per 200ml at 95°C for 2 minutes. For the full experience, a small gaiwan is worth borrowing — see tea.equipment for entry-level Chaozhou ware.
How long will the samples stay fresh?
Sealed in the foil pouch, about 12 months at room temperature. Once opened, brew within 6–8 weeks for the cleanest aromatic profile.
Where can I learn more about oolong processing?
The dancong module at tea.school covers oxidation and roast curves in detail. The encyclopedia entry at thetea.app/oolong/dancong maps the full cultivar tree.
If I like these, where do I buy a full tin?
Full 50g tins of both 2026 dancongs ship from shop.thetea.app. Hui Yi releases a limited spring batch each May.